Qualifying
Saturday morning saw a curtailed, wet qualifying session which set the grids for the first and third races of this weekend’s ROKiT British F4. James Higgins (Fortec Motorsport) secured the Omologato Pole Position Award and first position start for both races 1 and 3, having set his two fastest laps early in the session correctly anticipating worsening rain. Teams had hoped the conditions would dry towards the end of the session, however continuing rain saw conditions worsen and a red flag for a stranded car ultimately ended the session early, preventing further challenges.
While Hitech Pulse-Eight’s Kanato Lesecured third for both races 1 and 3, the second places were claimed by different drivers; Will Macintyre (Hitech GP)set the time for second on the Sunday afternoon televised round while Daniel Guinchard (Chris Dittmann Racing) took the front row slot today.
Round 4
It was Guinchard who capitalised at the start of the race, getting the jump on Fortec’s James Higgins and led into Paddock Hill Bend on the first lap, however he was to lose that lead running wide later in the lap in slippy conditions. A safety car was deployed after the first lap by which time Le had muscled his way into the lead followed by Higgins and Macintyre.
Standings leader Louis Sharp (Rodin Carlin) was up to third place when an incident further down the field led to a red flag.
At the restart Le, Macintyre and Deagen Fairclough (JHR Developments) led away, however following Sharp’s spin at Druids, leaving Fairclough to push Macintyre to the line with Le taking the chequered flag 1.609 seconds ahead. Fairclough subsequently received a post race penalty for an earlier infringement, promoting Fortec’s James Higgins to the third step of the rostrum. Fairclough took some consolation from a last lap performance that secured the Motul Fastest Lap and an additional championship point.
In the Rookie’s Cup Chris Dittmann Racing’s Gustav Jonsson took top honours with Douwe Dedecker (Virtuosi Racing) and Isaac Barashi (Argenti) rounding off the podium. There’s two more ROKiT British F4 races on Brands Hatch’s Indy circuit on Sunday when drier conditions are anticipated. Coverage on ITV4 starts from 11:15hrs.
